Government reiterates existing transparency rules for gambling and lottery operators

The Government has clarified that society lotteries and local authority lotteries are already bound by regulatory obligations designed to ensure transparency for players, following a written question in the House of Lords on 26 March 2026.

Lord Lucas asked whether the Government planned to require lotteries that allow unlimited subscriber participation to publish the total amount subscribed by gamblers, the stated value of prizes for their previous three comparable lotteries, and whether limits on subscription amounts should be introduced.

Responding on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Baroness Twycross said the Gambling Commission already regulates these lotteries under the Gambling Act 2005. She noted that:

• Society lotteries licensed by the Commission must publish information on each lottery, including how proceeds are used.
• Regulatory expectations include providing clear information on prize structures, the likelihood of winning, and allocation of proceeds, enabling consumers to make informed decisions.
• All society lotteries, whether subscription‑based or ticket‑based, are subject to both per‑draw and annual sales limits under existing legislation.

The response indicates that ministers believe current transparency and sales‑cap requirements are sufficient, and no additional disclosure or subscription‑limit measures are currently planned.